Clamp holder and clamp for pipe pushers



Dec. 30, 1958 G. NEMETH CLAMP HOLDER AND CLAMP Foa PIPE PusHERs FiledMay 8. 195s IN VENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent CLAMP Hernan ANDCLAMP non Pira PUsHEas George Nemeth, Lorain, hio Application May 8,1953, Serial No. 353,713

1 Claim. (Cl. 294-92) This invention relates to a pipe clamp and pipeclamp holder for use in advancing pipe sections underground or forwithdrawing or removing pipe sections from an underground horizontallocation. This device is particularly useful in forcing sections of pipethrough the earth as when it is desired to provide a water connectionfrom an underground water main or linelocated at or adjacent the curb toa furnace or other domestic outlet located within a basement or belowground level.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a rugged anddependable tool for the purpose described which is operable. by suitablehydraulic or other power operated mechanism to either insert pipeunderground in a horizontal direction or to remove connected horizontalsections of pipe which have already been laid underground.

Another object of the invention is to provide an irnproved tool for thepurpose described and which is rugged in construction and well adaptedto stand the wear to which it is subjected in normal operation.

Further and more limited objects of my invention will appear as thedescription proceeds and by reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich similar parts are designated by corresponding referencecharacters.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved tool.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same tool.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and Fig. 4is a vertical sectional view on the line 4-'4 of Fig. 3.

Referring -now to the drawings in detail my improved tool comprises apipe engaging clamp holder which is preferably formed of cast steel orthe like and which comprises oppositely disposed side Walls 1 and 2which converge downwardly and are connected by end walls 4 and 5. Thepipe engaging clamp holder is open at its bottom and positionedtherewithin is a pipe engaging clamp block 6 which has a central opening7 therein the inner edges of which are slightly grooved or V-shaped asindicated at 7a. The wall 2 has a circular opening 2a therein and thewall 1 has a similar opening 1a therein through which is received a pipeP. The walls 1 and 2 are preferably integral with the end walls '4 and 5and the die holder is preferably cast in one piece. The end walls 4 and5 have cast integral therewith a pair of outwardly extending ears orextensions 8 and 9 in which are formed circular recesses 8a and 9atherethrough thev purpose of which will later appear. Fitting within therecesses 8a and 9a are a pair of rods or bars indicated by the referencecharacters 10 and 11 which are adapted to be reciprocated by suitablepower operated mechanism (not shown). The pipe engaging clamp holderreceives the pipe P therethrough and is reciprocated or oscillated byany suitable power means which imparts short strokes thereto in adirection axially r'r I ICC of the pipe P. Carried by the die holder andloosely resting thereon is a U-shaped member 12 which has ears 12a and12b which overlie the end walls 4 andS as shown most clearly in Figs. 1and 2. The purpose and function of this member 12 is to limit themovement of the pipe engaging clamp 6. This member has circular recesstherein the walls of which overlie and rest on the pipe section.

When it is desired to advance a section of pipe horizontallyunderground, the section of pipe is inserted through the die and pipeengaging clamp holder as will appear from Fig. 1. Thev holder 1 is thenoscillated or reciprocated and the pipe engaging clamp 6 is actuated toadvance the pipe section horizontally in the direction of its length.The pipe engaging clamp 6 moves axially of its length as it is beingreciprocated and the edges 7a of the openings therein engage the outersurface of the pipe to progressively advance-the same horizontally in astep by step motion.

The device may be operated in the reverse direction simply by removingthe member 12 and placing it on the opposite side of the pipe engaging`clamp holder so that a reverse motion is obtained. It should be pointedout that rapid and short reciprocations are imparted to the pipeengaging clamp holder in a direction axially of the pipe section ineither direction to advance or withdraw the same.

lt will now be clear that I have provided a pipe engaging clamp and pipeengaging clamp holder for a pipe pusher which will accomplish theobjects of the invention as hereinbefore stated. The embodiment of theinvention as herein disclosed is to be considered merely illustrativeand not in a limiting sense as various changes may be made in thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts without departing fromthe spirit of my invention. The invention is therefore limited only inaccordance with the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

Y A device for horizontally moving a pipe in the ground comprising asubstantially at clamping plate having a circular opening therethrough,thewall of said opening converging inwardly from opposite sides of saidplate and diverging outwardly from the rims of the opening whereby toprovide oppositely disposed pipe biting edges, a holder for said platecomprising downwardly convergent ilat front and rear Walls, said wallshaving aligned i openings through which the pipe is adapted to looselyengage, end walls secured between said front and rear walls, aperturedblocks extending oppositely from each end wall, a U-shaped plate stopmember engaging between said end walls, and outwardly extending earscarried by said U-shaped member engaging over the upper edges of saidend walls, said U-shaped member being insertable between said endwallson a selected side of said plate to limit the rocking movement of saidplate.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

